Improvement in boat-detaching apparatus



iuierl tant 3jr/latent dtljiirr,

JAMESKFOSTER, JR., OF CAMDEN, NEW JERSEY, ASSIGNR TO HIM- SELF vANDYNOAH HAND, OF SAME PLACE.

Letters Patent No. 90,738, dated Jane v1, 1869.`

IMPROVEMENT IN BOAT-DETACHING APPARATUS.

The Schedule referred to in these Letters Patent and making part off'the same.

To all whom 'it may concern Be it known that I, JAM-Es Fosfrnn, Jr., of Garnden, in the county of Camden, and State of New J ersey, have invented a new andluseful Improvement in the Boat-Detaohng Hook; and I do hereby declare that the following is afull, clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, making a part of this specification, in which- Figure l is a vertical section of the said improved hook, as when a boat is suspended thereby; and

Figure 2, a like section of the same, as when the boat has just been detached therefrom.

Like letters and numbers of reference indicate the same parts when in both iig ires.

The nature of my invention consists in constructing and arranging the diierent constituent parts of the hook, substantially as hereinafter set forth and described, so that the weight of the boat, when suspended thereby, will keep the hook securely closed; hut when the boat reaches and is supported by the water, the said hook consequently opens and instantly releases the said boat.

Referring to the drawings, A B is one of two corresponding metallic plates connected, parallel with 'each other, by an intervening block, b', of like material, and leaving proper spaces for the insertion of the three adjustable parts, C, D, and E.

The part E is curved at one end, e', and forms the hook proper, its other end, e, being articulated to and between the lower ends of the connected plates A B,l

so as to swing freely below the connecting-block lr' of the said plates.

The upper side of E has a projection, e', one side of which lits against the corresponding side of the block b', when E is in the horizontal position shown in g. 1.

The opposite side of e'" has a rectangular notch, 4, in which (when the hook proper, E, is in its said horizontal position) the lowe'r or lighter end of the par-t1) fits, as shown in the same ligure.

The part D is a lever, having unequal arms, d' ll, and turns upon a fulcrum-pin, d, so that, when left free, its longer or heavier arm, d', falls down and rests upon the block b', (see iig. 2;) but when turned into connection with the hook proper, E, its shorteror lighter arm d" fits in the notch 4 of the latter, as shown in the ligure.

The part C is also a lever, having unequal arms, c c", and turns freely in the upper' end of A B, on a fulcrum-pivot, 0"'.

Its shorter or lighter arm c has aprojection, 5, on the under side, which, when the apparatus is adjusted for supporting a boat, lits .against the end, d', of D; and its longer arm, c", is tted with a swivelling-loop, 6, whereby the said boat-detaching hook is to be connected to and suspended from the usual davit-tackle.

Operation.

When a boat is suspended from the usual davittackle, by a pair of these detaching-hooks, the different parts of the latter having previously been placed in the relative positions shown in fig. 1, it will be seen that the weight of the boat, attached thereto by its ends, will consequently keep the parts C, D, and E firmly in the relative positions shown in the said figure, and that, as the boat enters thewater", the strain on the tackle diminishes until the Whole weight is transferred to the water, and, consequently the lower ends ot this detaching-hook will rest upon the respective ends of the boat, as indicated by the dotted line c fr, and thus cause the loop-end c", of the lever G, to tilt downward, so as to release the lever D, as indcated'by the dotted lines in fig. l; and as the boat moves away, the hook proper, E, falling open, into the v position shown in fig. 2.

In attaching, for the purpose of hoisting the boat, the parts C, D, and E are brought into the relative positions shown in iig. l; and, to prevent the possibility of any accidental tilting of the hook prjoper,. E, a spike or bolt maybe readily inserted through the hole 7, provided in the lever C for the purpose, and the said spike, in bearing across against the edges of the plates A B, will effectually prevent the said lever C from tilting.

All the different parts described should be made of wrought-iron, and strongly secured together. i

What I claim as my invention, and desire to secure 'by Letters Patent, is-

In a boat-detaching hook, the combination andarlrangement of the levers C, D, and E, as herein described and for the purpose set forth.

JAMES FOSTER, JR. lVitnesses:

BnNJ. Morrison, WM. H. Morrison. 

